5-cm Canister Shot 1863

This 5-cm Canister Shot was made by Constructie Werkplaats, using iron and rope. At first glance, the object looks quite simple in form, but the labor and industrial processes required to produce this canister shot must have been immense, with each step carefully considered. To begin, iron ore had to be mined, then smelted at a high temperature before it could be cast into the cylindrical form we see here. Likely, multiple workers would have been involved in the many stages of its making, each playing a part in its production. The rope handle completes the object, allowing it to be carried, loaded, and fired. An object such as this reminds us that war is, in a real sense, a manufacturing process. And it invites us to consider the social and material networks that enable this industry, often hidden from view. By considering the labor, materials, and context of this Canister Shot, we can come to a richer understanding of its meaning, challenging any hierarchy between art, craft, and industry.